Protesters rally against Queens Wharf extension, attack Auckland Mayor Phil Goff

Sunday, 10 March 2019

About 200 people gathered to protest the proposed extension of Queens Wharf to accommodate larger passenger vessels.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is defending his stance on a planned Queens Wharf extension, following claims he reneged on a promise to oppose further encroachment into Waitematā Harbour.

On Sunday, about 200 people, plus 20 to 30 boats, gathered at the wharf to protest the proposal. Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesman Michael Goldwater says the advocacy group wants to 'protect our most precious asset for future generations'.

Advocacy group Stop Stealing Our Harbour has accused Auckland Mayor Phil Goff of reneging on a promise not to encroach further into the city's harbour.

Plans were unveiled in late-2018 to extend the wharf to accommodate cruise ships 42 metres longer than the current wharf allows.

The work requires two concrete structures being added to the end of the wharf, with one walkway between them for the public and port worker-use when cruise ships are in.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, seen here announcing his 2019 re-election bid, says he has always supported the cruise industry's continued presence in Auckland.

'We are protesting because we are the City of Sails – not the harbour of concrete,' Goldwater said.

The mayor had u-turned from his previous stance on further encroachment into the harbour, Goldwater claimed.

'In 2016 Mayor Phil Goff said there would not be one more metre of concrete introduced to the harbour,' he said.

'Auckland Council has been blinded by overstated numbers exaggerating the economic benefits of a handful of ships that arrive in the morning and are gone by the afternoon.

Plans were unveiled in late-2018 to extend the wharf to accommodate cruise ships 42 metres longer than the current wharf allows.

'It's alarming that the council has made a decision that negatively impacts our harbour and costs ratepayers millions of dollars based on an economic report that has been discredited by two of New Zealand's leading economists. They also ignore viable alternatives that use existing port infrastructure.'

But Goff struck back on Sunday afternoon, saying he had expressed support for ensuring the cruise industry continued to create economic benefits and jobs.

A number of vessels also joined in the protest on Sunday.

'I am very aware of the need to protect and enhance our harbour which is why we are investing significantly in efforts to improve water quality and clean-up our waterways and beaches,' he said.

'I will not comment further while the matter is following a statutory process by independent commissioners and the Environment Court.

An impression of the 90-metre mooring extension proposed off Queens Wharf.

'These bodies will make a decision based on the evidence which is objective and impartial.'

Protesters gathered at the spot where the new wharf would be built. It would extend 90 metres from the end of the wharf at the right of this frame.

Goldwater was concerned Cruise NZ consultants were commissioned by the council to do the economic evaluation, calling this 'a major conflict of interest'.

This had led to a vastly exaggerated economic benefit to the extension, he said.

'It's exciting that the cruise industry is growing but Auckland Council is selling off the Waitematā Harbour for unguaranteed and limited economic gain, much of which will accrue to foreign-owned shipping corporations.'

The protest, Goldwater said, echoed opposition from Heart of the City, heritage groups, residents' associations, urban design groups and the likes of Fullers Ferries.

'The 90m extension will remove a sizeable portion of the Waitematā Harbour from public use and further industrialise the 'People's Wharf' – one of Auckland's most important waterfront public spaces,' he said.

'Queens Wharf was purchased by the Government and council as a downtown public waterfront arena and this proposed extension will have long-term negative effects on the public's use of the heritage wharf for years to come.

'The council plans are shifting the balance of Queens Wharf away from dynamic and open public use to a wharf that is being increasingly commercialised for the benefit of foreign-owned cruise corporations.'